Book Reviews - Part 4

Part 4:
NAKED REVIEW: HOW TO GET BOOK REVIEWS
What to do now that Amazon closed all loopholes (2017)

GETTING REVIEWS FROM FOREIGN PUBLICATIONS

Though the following example shows the foreign media coverage my only translated book received, I invite all authors to ponder over this concept.

Remember, non verified reviews won’t be shown on your Amazon book page!

By filling the editorial review sections on "foreign" Amazon sites with a few quotes, you can “enhance” your book pages in these ecommerce stores. Unless you know for a fact that you’ll get reviews from half-a-dozen foreign readers, you should seriously consider using this trick. Since you can take care of this task well ahead of releasing your book, it won’t interfere with your day-to-day marketing activities.

After I published the German edition of my book, NAKED TRUTHS About Getting Product Reviews on Amazon.com: 7 Insider Tips to Boost Sales  I did just that.

Since I was born in Austria, I contacted various Austrian newspapers and managed to get articles in four major business publications.

Quite interestingly, I found it easier to get my work featured in overseas newspapers than in my hometown’s. Basically, it took either only one email or one phone call. In the 21st century that is not a lot of effort. The reason for this is probably that foreign editors are impressed with if their input is sought from afar.

This concept is not limited to non-fiction books; a U.S. writer of a novel which plays out in Scotland or in Wales might be able to impress editors who like the idea that their home country is a desired backdrop location for writers, worldwide.

So, if you are a U.S. writer who wrote a mystery novel that plays out

in Dundee, Scotland, you could contact the Dundee Courier or Dundee’s Evening Telegraph.

Equally, an Australian author who publishes any type of “Independence Day” book has a good chance of getting featured in a Roswell, NM paper.

In addition to adding quotes to the editorial review section of your Amazon book page, coverage in foreign publications is also going too improve your “Google footprint.” Here is my German/Austrian Google “footprint”:

Please note:  If you decide to go this route be sure to have all facts in your book double checked. Some of the easiest criticism of Fifty Shades of Grey stemmed from the fact that British author E.L. James had her heroine, Ana, a Washington state resident (USA), talk like a British girl. Also, apparently, the residents of Seattle and Vancouver thought that Mrs. James must have never visited either one of these two cities; I read quite a few reviews which pointed out incorrect facts. 

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STEP 2: TRY TO GET ENDORSEMENTS! (They could be your book’s life-saver)

In a similar way, try to get excerpts, quotes, and endorsements for the editorial review section of your book page.

I never mentioned this option in my book NAKED TRUTHS About Getting Book Reviews because in 2015 and 2016 authors did not need to use this life-saver option. At the time, even most unknown authors who put in a decent effort could amass between half a dozen and a dozen reviews in a month because then, all reviews, verified and non verified, were presented by default.

Since Amazon’s last changes to their community guidelines, things are a lot harder. Certainly, four verified reviews and eight non verified reviews don’t look as good as twelve reviews. Which is why getting editorial reviews/endorsements could be your saving grace.

As a self-publishing author your goal needs to be to “fill” that first book page with reviews and editorial reviews/endorsements as fast as possible.

Amazon is making it harder and harder to get reviews from readers who did not buy your book on Amazon. Therefore putting a lot of effort into getting best quotes for the editorial review section has many advantages:

• Your Amazon book page won’t look empty when you release your book (you can also add editorial reviews to your book’s blurb in other ebook stores)
• You can plan this process weeks in advance.
• Your contacts don’t have to buy your book. 
• By providing your contacts with hot looking ARCs with personal dedications you can bolster your aura. 
• Editorial reviews/endorsements are known to encourage purchases.

Naturally, the best endorsements come from celebrities but you may not have access to famous people. The second best group are local celebrities. For instance, in 1988, when I published my alphabet book obvious LETTERS, I asked the principal of the only elementary school which all children from my small hometown attended to write the foreword and an endorsement.

The third best endorsements come from media people. Though your local paper may not be able to run a book review, one of the editors may give you an endorsement.

Your fourth best choice are well-known book bloggers. Only twenty years ago every newspaper used to have a book reviewer on staff. Today, this role is filled by book bloggers.

Your fifth best choice are other authors, preferably authors who write the same genre. Don’t approach just anybody. It is important to choose wisely.  Only endorsements of successful authors will be useful.

Make no mistake – after a decade of noticing or reading about authors who “inflated” their online profiles, readers and reviewers have wised up. I cannot count the number of authors who introduced themselves to me as “bestselling authors.” If I look up an author’s name on Amazon and find that their book’s Kindle sales rank is #2,345,678 and the book features only three to five reviews, I form my own opinion. So does everybody else.

Always keep in mind that endorsements are meant to build trust with readers who don’t know you or your work. If a middle school student could figure out that a person who endorsed your book is less well known than you are, the endorsement won’t help.

One of the best ways to approach this task is to look for local contacts first. That allows you to meet them in person, hand deliver your ARC, and explain what you are looking for as well as your timeline.

To get best result, put together a list of ideal candidates first. Be creative and think outside the box. 

Linkedin could be the most useful website for tackling this task. This professional social media platform gives you  the opportunity to also look for 2^nd connections, people who are friends with your Linkedin friends. Maybe one of your local friends knows a local newspaper editor. You will have to ask your connection(s) to introduce you.

To find 2^nd connections on Linkedin search for your connections in your home state first by typing your state’s name into the search field. Then, put a checkmark in the field “2^nd connections” on the right hand side of the webpage to see your friends’ connections.

When exploring these options DO NOT go overboard. You don’t need more than three to six endorsements. Also, unfortunately, indie authors had to learn that whenever they go overboard, Amazon will establish some kind of new rule. That’s what they have always done, hence we have to assume that they could do it again.

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Gisela Hausmann dares to write what others' won't say or don't know. Her work has been featured in regional, national, and international publications including Success magazine and Entrepreneur, and on Bloomberg's podcast "Decrypted."

Gisela tweets @Naked_Determina.
Her books are available at Amazon and other fine book stores.

• Naked News for Indie Authors How NOT to Invest Your Marketing $$$

• BOOK MARKETING: The Funnel Factor: Including 100 Media Pitches (paperback only)

• The Little Blue Book for Authors: 53 Dos & Don’ts Nobody Is Telling You
• The Little Blue Book for Authors: 101 Clues to Get More Out of Facebook
• The Little Blue Book for Authors: Essential Manners for the Modern Author

• NAKED TRUTHS About Getting Book Reviews 2018
• BAT SHIT CRAZY Review Requests: Email Humor (paperback only)

© 2017 by Gisela Hausmann

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